Public Art Displays

From signs

From signs

I love this community blogging project that began in November 2008 called Neighborhoodwalk. It sprang to life at Pittsburgh Podcamp3. Everyone and anyone can play along. This month's assignment -- "public art."

Flowers present a great option for public art.

From Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates ponder current events

Love in red flowers shown in this photo is for a bride in China. In China, the brides generally where red, not white.

From Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates ponder current events

Pittsburgh's public art is nice. We've got these public dinos littered around town. These A-B-Cs came from the skin on the Alphabetsaurus that was designed by our neighborhood Elementary School, Pittsburgh Phillips K-5.

From Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates ponder current events

From signs

From Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates ponder current events

We like to travel and with that comes an expansion of perspectives. So, this tour goes where we've been.

One of my favorites, this roadside speeding guy, looking a lot like Mercury with ribbons behind. He was seen while on one of our four trips to China.

From Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates ponder current events

The slide show that follows has 64 images, each with comments. I am tickled by the functional art. Best best art to me is action and play among people in the streets and neighborhoods. There is plenty of art within a bike that serves as a carrier for parent and kids or else parked to hold flowers. There is art in the sidewalk stones -- and the Pennsylvania hex signs too.

Slideshow:

Do go and drink up the other offerings from the others presenting the Rustbelt Public Art Neighborhood Walk.

From signs

Bnus art image:

Why More And More Politicians Are Rotten To The Core -- Matt Towery -- GOPUSA

Why More And More Politicians Are Rotten To The Core -- Matt Towery -- GOPUSA That the governor of Illinois would attempt to sell a U.S. Senate seat didn't shock me. Across America, there is a growing sense of entitlement among more and more elected officials. Not all, of course, but too many.
From city councils to Congress, elected positions have evolved from their intended part-time status to full-time obsessions. And as governments have grown, so have their access to big money. Political leaders now hold life-and-death fiscal power over people and businesses.

Zombies are popular for new high school sports mascot

The Zombies can be the new sports mascot for sports teams at Pgh Public Schools newest high schools -- Science & Technology and Univ Prep (joint athletic squads).

Zombies would be the greatest sports nickname ever. = 58%.

Zombies is okay given Pittsburgh rich Zombie legacy. = 33%.

Sure. Whatever. = 8%.

The Zombies is just too radical for these botique schools.Be more traditional and get something else. = 0%

To be honest, in person I've talked about this concept with more than 100 people. Only one has ever said that Zombies is not such a good mascot. ONE.

Police: Man Stabs Brother Over Hot Water Incident - News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh

Police: Man Stabs Brother Over Hot Water Incident - News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh: "A man is accused of stabbing his brother on Pittsburgh's South Side late Wednesday afternoon after the brother threw hot water on him, police said.

In other news, a guy got run down the other night on the South Side.

Plus, the other died in the stairwell of a joint the other night too -- with knife wounds.

So, does Bruce Kraus, one of the guys who is responsible for the cleaning of guns out of the city with one goofy ordinance, going to come to the rescue with all these other acts too? Is Bruce Kraus going to outlaw knives, hot water and cars?

A guy jumped off the Clemente Bridge the other day. Can they put up signs to not do that and build a 15-foot fence on all bridges to make it harder for bridge jumpers?

Perhaps they can dedicate those red light cameras from homeland security sources and have them installed onto the roof tops of area hospitals -- so as to catch those looking for the stairway to heaven.

Thousands Of Local School Children Rewarded With A Trip To Penguins Morning Skate

If the Penguins really cared about school performance of our kids, don't you think that the Pens would have been certain to NOT pull them from school to attend a practice?

kdka.com - Thousands Of Local School Children Rewarded With A Trip To Penguins Morning Skate As part of their effort to reach out to local schools and emphasize the importance of education, the Pittsburgh Penguins invited children from every local school district to attend their morning practice at Mellon Arena.

This makes little sense. It goes against the stated principles of the goal.

I love sports. I love scholarship too. Sports should be a part of the school experience -- after the dismissal bell.

Sure, there are exceptions. But, those exceptions should involved the kids being the performer -- not the spectator. Live isn't about being a spectator.

Another way to support the school children would be if the Pens played more games at better hours to allow for the kids to watch. Start some school night games at 6 or 6:30 pm. Hold more weekend afternoon games.

Oregon Government 2.0 bill - PdxWikiWednesday

Oregon Government 2.0 bill - PdxWikiWednesday: "In the 2009 legislative session, Oregonians have an opportunity to take a significant ownership stake in their government and the work it produces. This web page will be used as a work space to develop a bill that will place works of state government legally in the public domain, and make them more accessible to the public in a practical sense."

Deadline is lifted. Not dead yet.

City schools extend magnet-application deadline

Pittsburgh Public Schools has extended the deadline for magnet registration because of high interest and a new process.

Applications must be postmarked by Dec. 19 for about 30 magnet options. The deadline had been this Friday.

Previously, those interested applied at a particular school. This time, the applications are being handled centrally, with applicants permitted to name three top choices.

The extension applies to all magnet options except for Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12, which had a Nov. 21 deadline.

More information on the choices and procedure are available on the district's Web site, http://www.pghboe.net.

If you miss the deadline, you should go onto the waiting list. If all the slots are not filled, then you have a rolling admission.

If they need to extend the deadline, I'd like to have an extra point or two be awarded to the lottery system to those that do and turn in their homework on time.

Western Standard and Ron Paul's target guy

Western Standard: "Ron Paul economic adviser Peter Schiff was right about, well, everything

Listening to National Public Radio (NPR) the other day, they did a little piece on Peter Schiff, former Ron Paul economic adviser, president of Euro Pacific Capital, and an advocate of the Austrian school of economics. Schiff is often on various financial and business shows as a talking head. On all of them, over the last three or four years, Schiff has been busy predicting an economic catastrophe."

The Burgh Report gets an insightful quote from City Councilman, Bruce Kraus

The blog reads:

The Burgh Report'Oh bite me,' Bruce Kraus volunteered to the Burgh Report when asked for his own reaction. 'You can put that on the record.'

Splendid quote from such a deep thinker.

Personal Health - All That Noise Is Damaging Children’s Hearing - NYTimes.com

New York Times covers noise exposure for kids.

Personal Health - All That Noise Is Damaging Children’s Hearing - NYTimes.com All That Noise Is Damaging Children’s Hearing

Hearing loss among kids and young adults is on the rise in the US, sadly.

Five million children have an entirely preventable disability that will stay with them for life.

Once the ringing in the ears begins, without the music playing, it is too late to turn it down or use other protective measures.

Get this, toys can be as loud as 138 decibels yet workplace noise is limited to 85. I'm not for more laws. But, more vigilance. Parents and adults need to step in frequently on the frequency and intensity.

My wife has been a board member of the American Academy of Audiology.

No its not. Yes it is. CNN interview with book author

A bit of an econ lesson by a book author.

Fed is to blame.

Crash Proof!

Congratulations Barak Obama, story from Chris Chandler

I enjoy this guy's newsletter. This month, he talks of the election and sports -- Georgia style and all.

M.U.S.E. .A.N.D. .W.H.I.R.L.E.D. .R.E.T.O.R.T.
By Chris Chandler
www.chrischandler.org
Vol X issue iii
December 1, 2008
Washington, DC

Sorry so late this month. I have been in my home town of Stone Mountain, Georgia. This is the first news letter since the election.

I was in DC on Tuesday, November 4th. Holy Cow!

From 11:02 (the moment the polls closed on the west coast and the media announced the election) till the wee hours of the morning a traffic jam formed on the blocks that surround the white house. People laid down on their horn. All night long George was treated to one continual thousand car horn salute.

People were excited. Excited for the change Barak Obama has professed will come.

Upon his election last month yes, in 2008 -- there are people alive on this earth whose parents, not great grand parents, not grandparents parents were slaves. If you were born in 1863 and sired a child in your 50s, that child is now in their 90s. It has been a short time. It has been an eternity. Change.

In the year of my birth, Martin Luther King said in his I Had a Dream speech, "Let freedom ring from the Stone Mountain of Georgia." Because he longed for change to come to America.

He mentioned my home town because at the time it was the home of a very powerful Ku Klux Klan reeking terror throughout the south land in which I was born. Because of the Klan, it is also the home of the world's largest carving the Confederate Memorial where the stone images of the three Confederate leaders are indelibly chiseled to the side the mammoth slab of granite that inexplicably protrudes from the Georgia red clay larger than Mount Rushmore itself.

In 1915 the modern Klan was formed on this site in a ceremony that involved burning a cross from the mountain's summit. The inferno was so large it could be seen from the city of Atlanta some 20 miles away. The inferno it represented was much larger. The rebel revelers longed for no change to come to America.

It was in that setting that I came into this world. I saw my town of three thousand grow on rally days to ten thousand hooded heroes march through the town as young girls through flowers at their feet. How could I not long to be among them. I did.

Yes, I grew up a racist, how could I not? You could blame me. I was a kid. You could blame my parents but how could they know any better? Growing up in rural Alabama during the depression, it did not seem like a place that change was going to come to. You could blame my grand parents. My grandmother was sixty at Brown Vs. Board of Education. She did not know there needed to be change in America.

Upon the outcome of Brown Vs Board of Education, the state of Georgia changed her state flag to add the Confederate battle flag as if to say, "Change was never going to come to America."

I am probably the youngest person you will likely meet that went to a segregated school. In 1970 Jimmy Carter defeated Lester Maddox for governor and went about practically desegregating the last of the segregated schools. Change was coming to Georgia. I was in the first grade.

I played football on the first desegregated little league team in my county: The Central De Kalb 85 lb Packers. Before they were the Packers they were known as yes The Crackers. Donning a "University of Georgia G" on our helmets I found myself on the opposite end of the America I had known. I learned to depend on, play with, sacrifice for my black team mates. Team work. When The Packers played teams in counties more isolated than De Kalb I found my team and therefore myself on the receiving end of jeers and threats and even getting into sand lot brew-ha-has defending defending.. well, my team but vicariously desegregation. Change was a foot (ball.)

As I was growing up, Stone Mountain was a white trash trailer court. But this too was changing. Atlanta, the city too busy to care, beat Birmingham in a bid for a major airport and sprouted like the Kudzu on either side of the Hank Aaron Highway. A city with no navigable waterway instead became -- not a port city but -- an airport city. Change was coming to the world. She grew from 300,000 to 4 million. The dirt road I grew up on is now a four lane highway with a traffic light. Co-Cola, CNN, Home Depot and the rest.

The growing city won a bid for the Olympics in 96. The long distance marathon event ran round Stone Mountain itself now an Atlanta suburb -- with the finish line in front of the monument. Robert E Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and Jefferson Davis' granite gaze cast down upon a Kenyan runner, black as the population of Stone Mountain, throwing his hands into the air passing the finish line with Georgia's Confederate battle flag blowing in the breeze. Change was coming to America. Georgia changed her flag.

The white flight that inevitably parallels a growing city blew right past Stone Mountain leaving in its wake a suburban black middle class. The words "Stone Mountain" were on the pages of the New York Times for a second time in her history when the town that Martin Luther King singled out elected a black mayor. Change was brewing in America. Only some old timer whites remain. My mother is one of them.

I came to visit her recently. At the corner of Rockbridge Road and Cynthia McKinney Blvd (another African American that ran for president this year) there is a shell station down the street from my mother's house. A young African American man approached me wearing his mall bought Negro League baseball jersey (made in Bangladesh) and blood-diamond bling saying, "You have no idea where you is."

I do. One visible sign that change is at hand is that a black teenager was willing to take a ride with a middle aged oddly clad bald white man. I took him to the old city hall, now a museum. I showed him the bell presented to the town by the King foundation to let Freedom Ring. I took a drink from the colored water fountain I would not have been allowed to drink from as a child. He in turn drank from the "white." Parts of my childhood I am glad to have relegated to the annals of small town museums.

The city of Stone Mountain carried Barak Obama , but not the state of Georgia. But more importantly he carried the nation, and the vote of my mother.

Change has come to America. "Let freedom ring from the Stone Mountain of Georgia."

Congratulations Barak Obama.

Peabody best site for IB program, panel says

Peabody best site for IB program, panel says: "A 30-member site-selection committee has unanimously recommended the Pittsburgh Peabody building as the best permanent home for the International Baccalaureate program for grades 6 through 12 in the Pittsburgh Public Schools.

Full article:

Peabody touted as home of IB magnet: "Peabody touted as home of IB magnet"

Public Art - not very Rustbelt-ish. More to come on Dec. 11

The Rustbelt Bloggers are slated to unleash a number of discussions on public art on Dec 11. You still have time to join us in this shared project about shared works of art.

If anyone wants to talk about the mayor's race -- call me. Certain keys are not understood by most.

I posted in the comments of another blog about the mayor's race, now that Chelsa is really out of the running in 2009.

Needed, a ONE-TWO punch. Otherwise, forget it.

One is a DEM to beat up upon the existing administration in a contested D primary. Gains must be made. Messages must be delivered. Voters and citizens must see and make a choice.

Then, the second stage is the general election with another campaign. Not with a "R" -- as that is hopeless. But, with an "I." That is the 'second punch.'

And, the two waves need to be coordinated with each other, yet be deliberate and distinctive.

DeSantis didn't offer an ounce of coordination.

Finally, the second must be delivered from a base of other supporters in 'down-ticket' races.

In other news.... See my recent twitter about who is departing Pittsburgh for D.C. for a gig with a national nonprofit in her industry. Hope she is having a good time in 21's homeland.

Perhaps Chelsa's letter saying she quit should have just stated, "Uncle!"

Fall Bailout

 

My baby is now 11. Happy Birthday Grant.

See another slide show at Grant's blog -- at gRauterkus.blogspot.com.

Time Out - Burn Em. Look Good Instead. USC & UCLA game

This story of the USC and UCLA football game is interesting and speaks volumes on a number of levels.

Looking good is a LA tradition.

Being a good sport with your cross town rival -- making the game fair -- is a great move as well from the Bruins.

Personally, I loved UCLA as a kid. I think of John Wooden -- the W of Westwood. But the strongest feelings I get are swimming - and Tom Jager and his great coach. Those Wikipedia pages are sorta light.

Then UCLA cut its men's swim team.

Go USC Go.

For those that don't know about the football game, 1:30 pm California time on Saturday, USC's coach said he wanted to have USC wear its home jersey. The game is in The Rose Bowl. Both teams should wear home jerseys -- as it is a tradition. And, this year, USC's coach was willing to put his squad in the wrong-colored (as per NCAA rules) uniforms and take a penalty.

At first, he though that the USC team would do without two time outs. The final word on the rule after investigation was that the team would only have to be penalized one of its time outs -- not one per half.

So, the UCLA coach said he'd burn a timeout on the first play of the game, right after the kickoff, to make the game "even."

Well done coaches.

Too bad Pitt and Penn State can't get their act together like we're seeing this year with the USC and UCLA coaches.

Next -- we need to see UCLA field a men's swim team. Perhaps Tom Jager can come back as coach.

Got tickets? We could be convinced to go.

Perhaps we'll check out the Rose Bowl Aquatics swim practice schedule and go there for an early workout on Saturday morning and stay for the game -- and tailgate.

Sweet gift. Thanks!

The Grable Foundation this morning announced it will give $5 million to the Pittsburgh Promise over five years.

It was described as the biggest gift ever by the 32-year-old philanthropy.

The foundation will give the college scholarship program $1 million annually for five years. After that, it will consider additional gifts.

Splendid.

Theresa Smith

December 2, 2008 412-921-5927 OR 412-969-4991 (mobile)

Long-time Community Advocate Announces Candidacy for Pittsburgh City Council District 2

(PITTSBURGH) – A 20-year community advocate, volunteer and mother, who for the last three years has served as secretary for the 28th Ward Democratic Committee, has announced her candidacy for Pittsburgh City Council District 2.

Theresa Smith, 49, is seeking the seat vacated by Pittsburgh City Councilman Dan Deasy, recently elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Smith, the married mother of three and grandmother of two, serves on several school and community committees. Over the last two decades, her volunteerism has spanned across Allegheny County, and in some cases, statewide, earning her results and recognition.

The Westwood resident is president of the Crafton Heights, Westwood, Ridgemont Community Council; vice president of the Westwood/Oakwood Athletic Association; is active in both the Sheraden and Banksville community organizations and has volunteered on several Mount Washington area projects. In her role as the West End coordinator for the Pittsburgh Campaign for Student Success, she helped to create jobs and formed a team working toward creating a community multipurpose center to serve District 2 residents.

She also is a Weed & Seed committee member; the West End coordinator for the Moms & Cops program and was instrumental in working with elected officials and community leaders to reopen the Zone 6 police station.

Building upon her platform that an engaged, active community is a stable one, Smith intends to continue with the initiatives that have made her a highly reliable community advocate. She plans to advance her efforts to develop programs to unite communities, maintain a strong police presence and reduce neighborhood blight. In fact, Smith formed the South West Enhancing Environment Program (SWEEP) a program to help end blight and bring homes in the region up to Bureau of Building Inspection (BBI) codes and the South West Eco-Evolution Team (SWEET) the first West End environmental program, which is responsible for creating a bike/walking trail out of recycled materials amongst other projects. The Pittsburgh native continues to work with local community leaders to form a new community development corporation and has begun a new position as a supplemental educational coordinator.

City building inspectors slow to respond in some cases, audit finds

City building inspectors slow to respond in some cases, audit finds: "Around one in six complaints submitted to the city of Pittsburgh Bureau of Building Inspection 'languish for an average of over nine months,' according to a City Controller's Office audit released today.

Controller Michael Lamb characterized that as a 'distressing' finding in an audit that otherwise found that the bureau, though understaffed compared to similar cities, is getting permits issued within reasonable times and beginning to modernize."

Michael Lamb is bringing down the house.

Hey Michael, you live is city council district 2. Who are you going to support for the new city council member?

Are you going to do anything in that race -- or do as little as possible?

I expect Michael will not look out for the greater community and rather look out for Michael Lamb -- and not make any endorsement nor pledge of support on the campaign trails.

If he played it neutral and down the middle -- but hosted a series of public meetings where he was the moderator of community debates, then he'd be creative, outgoing, energetic, engaging and fair to the democratic process and each citizen candidate putting it out on the line.

I could host pan-partisan debates -- but I've done that before. And, I'm going to come down on a side among the candidates as well. So, I'm not Mr. Neutral on this race, even if it is outside of my formal city council district.

I'm thinking about bailouts

Bailouts in the making.

Details, details, details.

Bailout elves at work.

Bailouts that might fit in your car's cup holder.

Tall order bailouts should be about this tall.

Fragile. And, you can't stop at one.

Australia’s Net Censorship Sparks Outrage

Another good example of how government is not generally the place to obtain the best answer to the pressing questions of today's society.

SitePoint - Australia’s Net Censorship Sparks Outrage: "Australia’s last try at censorship, the AU$84 million NetAlert program put forth by former PM John Howard, was cracked in a half hour by a 16-year-old Aussie named Tom Wood in August 2007. Upon hearing about Wood’s feat, the government added another layer of filtering to beef up the system — Wood got through the new filter in 10 minutes.

SitePoint � Google’s Operating System Arrives - But Not From Google

SitePoint � Google’s Operating System Arrives - But Not From Google: "Now, tiny Emeryville, California-based Good OS, has taken the browser-as-OS idea a bit further with the announcement of their latest operating system, dubbed “Cloud.” Good OS is most famous for the gOS, a Linux distribution that debuted last year on the Everex gPC, a $199 computer sold at Wal-Mart. gOS is a slimmed down version of Linux that is made to specifically play nice with web applications and web-centric apps like Google Calendar, Docs, Gmail, Skype, YouTube, and Firefox.

The new Cloud OS product, which was announced today at the Netbook World Summit in Paris, France, is specifically designed for netbooks and nettop computers. Cloud boots “in seconds” into a browser that is specifically designed to make access to cloud based applications, like Google’s suite of web apps, quick and easy via a built-in Mac OS X-like dock that has been added to the browser. Notice that the browser looks a lot like Google Chrome, which is open source. That seems unlikely to be a coincidence."

Busted Coverage: Booze, Ladies And Football � Cuff ‘Em: 34 Cited At Backyard Brawl, Mom Goes Down For Backyard Boxing, 2 Boise Athletes Visit Jail & UW Harassment

Busted Coverage: Booze, Ladies And Football � Cuff ‘Em: 34 Cited At Backyard Brawl, Mom Goes Down For Backyard Boxing, 2 Boise Athletes Visit Jail & UW Harassment: "We’re pretty disappointed in the drunken news out of Pittsburgh for the Backyard Brawl. Only 34 underage drinking citations were handed out.

Does anyone know those two shown in the photo?

Some noise from A+ Schools

What is the Value Added at Pittsburgh Public Schools? What is PVAAS anyway?

If you are looking for answers to these questions join us for a PVAAS briefing on Wednesday, December 3, 2008. The meeting will be held from 6PM to 8PM at Pittsburgh University Prep in the Milliones Facility, 3117 Center Avenue in the Hill District.

Jennifer Ross from the PA Department of Education, Dr. Linda Lane, Deputy Superintendent of the Pittsburgh Public Schools, and three PPS Principals, Melissa Friez from Peabody, Derrick Hardy from Vann, and Cindi Muehlbauer from Arlington, will be on hand to lend their perspectives and expertise and answer your questions.

Because we value your time and participation, A+ Schools will provide dinner as well as childcare for children over 1. Please let us know you are coming by calling (412) 258-2660 ext 101. RSVP TODAY!

PVAAS is new information made available in A+ Schools’ 2008 Report to the Community released earlier this month. PVAAS is measure of growth in PSSA achievement produced by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. PVAAS estimates whether or not selected grade levels made progress no matter where their starting point was. If you haven’t already seen the 2008 Report to the Community you can check it out at www.aplusschools.org/cspr08.html. Let us know if you would like a hard copy by emailing us at info@aplusschools.org.

Community View on Good Governance

A+ Schools believes that the Pittsburgh Public Schools are vital to the success of the region. We believe good school board governance is essential to improving our schools. To that end we would like to understand how the community views the Pittsburgh Public Schools’ school board governance. We would appreciate your responses to this brief online survey (the survey will take 5-10 minutes to complete). Your responses will help us identify and communicate the community’s expectations.

Access the survey by visiting this link:
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB228KG6CLXLV.

PPS Budget News

A public hearing will be held TOMORROW, DECEMBER 2 at NOON to provide an opportunity for the public to comment on the Preliminary General Fund Budget for 2009. It will be held at the Pittsburgh Public Schools Administration Building, 341 South Bellefield Avenue, Conference Room A in Oakland. Other key dates are as follows:

12/08/08: Regular Public Hearing - 7:00 p.m. - Administration Building, Conference Room A

12/17/08: Legislative Meeting - 2009 Budget Vote

All budget related materials can be accessed online. Public feedback can be provided to the Parent Hotline at (412)622-7920, to the Superintendent via an e-mail to: superintendentoffice@pghboe.net or via mail.

Colaizzi named city schools' new president

Colaizzi named city schools' new president: "The Pittsburgh Public Schools board has elected Theresa Colaizzi of Greenfield as its new president.

Mrs. Colaizzi was elected tonight (with six votes in favor. Three board members -- Mark Brentley, Sherry Hazuda and Randall Taylor -- abstained.

Mrs. Colaizzi follows Bill Isler, who served as president for five years. Mr. Isler was elected second vice president. Thomas Sumpter was elected first vice president.

In remarks following her election, Mrs. Colaizzi praised Mr. Isler. She also said, 'Tonight, I commit to all of you that I will chair this board with a spirit of optimism and collaboration.'

Mrs. Colaizzi, 48, was an active parent before joining the board seven years ago. She is the mother of two Allderdice High School graduates and the owner of a hair salon, Hair Etc.

Mrs. Colaizzi's term on the board is up this year. She told me she would decide about January if she will run again for another four year term or not. Wonder what this new role does to her plans for eventual retirement.

Mrs. Colaizzi is the board member from my 9th of town, for what it is worth.

She isn't so fond of technology. At least I felt that she was very harsh on past Chief Technology Officers for PPS.

Hope she reads the tech position from India out on my blog earlier today. There is a pointer to a PDF with some keen insights into what could and should be done with learning about computers and communications. That plan applies to some 20-million school children. And, it is now fully about open source technology.

Swim Cuts for WPIAL Championships

The chart shows the cut times for the WPIAL Swim Meet.

Boys and Girls times are show. Some schools are triple A -- others are double A.

Click for full size. Reprinted from WPIAL.org

Navy Seal hits South Side river's edge

UPMC Sports Performance is now offering Navy SEAL Fitness Classes. Classes will be conducted at both the South and North UPMC Sports Performance locations in Gibsonia and the South Side. Experience the dimension of elite fitness and personal conditioning that is applicable to all athletic pursuits and you.

All classes are taught by a genuine Navy SEAL of 25 years. For all ability levels... men and women alike! This program is guaranteed to vault you to superior level(s) of personal and athletic fitness. A universal conditioning regimen that SEAL's actually employ... which is virtually applicable to any recreational, sport and athletic activity! Ideal training and conditioning for all middle school and high school athletes, future military prospects, law enforcement, fire fighters and more!

Days: Monday and Wednesday mornings... weekly.
Time: 6:00 to 7:00 AM
Location: UPMC Sports Performance Complex... SOUTH SIDE: 3300 South Water St @ Pittsburgh, PA 15203
Cost: $250.00: Per person... for one 8 week block of training. (You can start training on any Monday AM... that you choose.)
*** NOTE: (All UPMC employees receive a $20.00 discount.) ***
POC: Dan Toth: USN/SEAL/Retired - ISSA CPAT - UPMC Sports Performance Complex - Director of Performance Camps - (C) (412) 926-5204

NOTICE: "This program is neither affiliated with no obtained programming associated with the University of Pittsburgh's Neuromuscular Research Laboratory research, Office of Naval Research/NSW Award #N00014-07-1190"

Message to President-Elect Barack Obama from a Libertarian

Today's "Monday Message" is primarily one for . Though the Bush administration, which has undoubtedly been one of the worst in American history, will be leaving office on Jan. 20, 2009, there is little room for celebration as Obama looks to take over as commander-in-chief.

Obama's attitude towards wealth, the marketplace and economics is reason enough to worry about his administration in this extremely fragile economy. But, there are other areas where Obama must tread with care if he wishes to follow the Constitution and foster an environment of liberty that has been lacking these last eight years.

Therefore, the Libertarian Party wishes Obama the best of luck, and offers him the following suggestions for his presidency in the following areas:

* Civil Liberties:

This is one area where we thought Obama could bring real change to the table following the Bush administration, which held the protection of civil liberties about as high as they regarded things like the flu and traffic jams. However, when Obama's feet were put to the fire, Obama sold out and capitulated to the enemies of freedom during the reauthorization of the Amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

It's not unjustified to be skeptical of Obama when it comes to upholding civil liberties.

If Obama looks to separate himself from the Bush administration, he should—and must—work to undue the legislation of the last eight years that have left Americans incredibly vulnerable to government surveillance and spying. We must have our liberty restored and the despotic surveillance tactics of the "War on Terror" abolished.

Secondly, Obama must not use the Department of Justice as a tool to bend and break the law as he sees fit, as the Bush administration frequently did. The DOJ has much work to do to rebuild its reputation with the American public, and it can start with the Obama administration.

* Economic Freedom:

The necessity to defend and protect the marketplace from regulation and interference by the government is key to the long-term prosperity of the nation. This point cannot be stressed enough.

The Bush administration believed it had a right and duty to get involved in the economy when they thought it wasn't working to their standards. Instead of letting the market work out its problems, Bush got involved and turned a bad situation into a worse one.

Obama should take a hands-off approach to the economy, stepping in only to protect property rights, adjudicate disputes, and provide a legal framework in which voluntary trade is protected. Any attempt to "redistribute" the wealth through regulation or taxation should be avoided at all costs. If this is attempted, it will have dire consequences for the economy.

* Social Freedom:

Usually you don't have to jump on Democrats about protecting social freedom, but as of late, Democrats have increasingly become more heavy-handed when it comes to personal choice in people's lives.

The "global warming" hysteria and push for more regulation of Americans' diets has put Democrats in the same corner as those who seek to institute moral standards through government regulation.

Obama must buck this new trend by Democrats and work to protect individual choice—even if it seems like the government needs to help people make these decisions. Obama can also take this opportunity to reform national laws that make victimless crimes a federal matter.

* The War:

This has to be one of the most obvious areas for improvement, yet one are that Democrats have consistently failed in since regaining control of Congress in 2006.

The power to end the war in Iraq is now in the hands of Obama. He also has a power to finally end what we began in Afghanistan long before we began military action in Iraq. What he must do is avoid moving troops from one theater to the other instead of simply bringing the troops home.

It is time for Obama and Democrats to follow through with earlier promises.

If Obama takes all of these suggestions, we will have one of the best presidencies in American history. If he takes none, then we will surely see times far darker than those under the Bush administration.

In all likelihood, we will see improvements over the Bush administration in some areas, and setbacks in others. This is why it is paramount that the Libertarian Party be a strong, shining beacon of liberty for all Americans looking for true change from the last eight years.

Live free,
Andrew Davis, Director of Communications, Libertarian Party

Palin is back to work on campaign trails in Georgia

The general election of 2008 is not over, just yet. Georgia, due to strong vote totals for 3rd party candidate(s), has a run-off election. I wonder how that is going?

Anderson Cooper 360: Blog Archive - Morning Buzz: Palin-She’s baaaack � - Blogs from CNN.com: "Sarah Palin is on the campaign trail today for fellow party member Saxby Chambliss. He is in a crucial run-off race for a US Senate seat in Georgia against Democrat Jim Martin tomorrow.

This Georgia race has implications for the wider balance of power in the Senate. If Chambliss loses and the Democrats win the still TBD Minnesota senate race, Dems would have a filibuster proof majority. For her part, if Palin sways the vote successfully, her ability to rev up the conservative base will be in the spotlight.

Exit polls after the election showed her popularity fade with some, others still see her as the best speaker in the Republican party, and her name continues to be one of most searched on the internet. Gary Tuchman will follow her today in Georgia and report tonight. Are you glad to see her in the spotlight?

Attention Zombie students and district leaders

The lead story in today's OpenOffice.org email newsletter has this bit of news:

A breakthrough in curriculum change for 201 m students and adoption of Open Source Technologies in schools

...finally had a major breakthrough with NCERT, the body responsible for setting curriculum for 201 m school students in India. In the last 30 years, this is the first time that they have come out with a syllabus that has no reference to Microsoft or Oracle products. This impacts more than 201 m students in India.
The details of the syllabus can be found at

http://www.ncert.nic.in/html/syllabus.htm

Here, in Pittsburgh, and in the US, people are worried that the right flavor of black history, women's history, international history, world creation, etc. is taught in the schools. All are worthy discussions.

However, the one discussion that should be of prime focus now, in Pittsburgh, is that the right flavor of technology is being taught and deployed with our schools. In September of 2009, Pittsburgh Public Schools is to open a new Science and Technology High School and Middle School. That school will span the grades of 6 to 12.

I want to work to insure that our kids in Pittsburgh are being exposed to, in a day-to-day basis, open-source software tools, principles and methods. This is something that INDIA is doing now. And, Pittsburgh should not be left behind in the dust.

CMU is a world leader in many realms with open source technology. CMU generated more lines of code in LISP than anywhere else in the world. All of it is in the open.

We need the Science and Technology School to embrace open source software.

We need to discount the Microsoft Corp. and Oracle Corp license agreements and expenses. They are, after all, all about what the older white guys have to say -- not ethnic and culturally diverse -- if this was put into the same apples and oranges bucket. Yes, Bill Gates = Christopher Columbus. Yes, Bill Gates = Andrew Carnegie too.

Pittsburgh's new public high school and middle school built around science and technology needs to be built with a strict adherence and devotion to open-source software, such as is offered with OpenOffice.org and thousands of other software tools.

Finally, the school's sports team mascot should be The Zombies!

Making minorities feel more at home in school

Making minorities feel more at home in school: "Many high school history courses take a survey approach, giving students the highlights about many important events during a particular period.

Kenneth Smith has a different plan for the Pittsburgh Public Schools' new course on African-American history. Mr. Smith, a course developer, said students will study multiple perspectives on black history, gather information from primary sources and write their own interpretations of history.

When the schools want to invite Libertarians to lead a civics class or develop a text book -- let me know. I'm a minority too.

If the Founding Fathers were around today, they'd be in the minority as well. And, to be sure, back then, they didn't have a monopoly.

The entire celebration of Pittsburgh's 250th is a very European-centered educational event. What was going on in Pittsburgh 300 or 400 years ago?

The I.B. education is more of a world view too. But, with a world view, I dare say, you can't just have three text books.

Let's see a report card that lists the 100 steps that were part of the settlement with the PPS and the advocates. List them. Then list the plans. Then list the outcomes in the early years. Then list the present day outcomes. Then have a check off that shows complete satisfaction or not of the progress of that point by all involved (PPS administration, teachers, board, students, parents, taxpayers, advocates, government).

Who is on the district's equity advisory panel. When do they meet? Where are the minutes of their past meetings? Can those meetings be put on cable TV or else capture the audio and turn them into podcasts (such as with TalkShoe.com).

60 Minutes, Anderson Cooper and Michael Phelps

My photo from the 2008 Olympics:
The TV show from CBS:
Watch CBS Videos Online

End The Fed interview slated for WDUQ for Monday AM w Dave Powell

Listen for a phone interview about the End the Fed with Katherine Fink that should air Monday morning sometime (no idea when).

http://www.wduq.org/audio/index.html

We're gearing up for the pending trip to Southern California

Long Beach Swim Club @ Yahoo! Video

End the Steelers at Patriots game at end of 3rd quarter and turn on 60 Minutes and Michael Phelps interview

The game in Foxboro, Mass is wet and getting ugly. End it now. Let's turn on the 60 Minutes show and watch Michael Phelps interivew. Run it twice. We don't need to see it eight times -- but we don't need to see Cassel drop balls again either.

I'll either LIVE BLOG the interview -- or else follow Twitter.

Cafe Witness: PittGirl and the Trouble With Being Anonymous

Cafe Witness: PittGirl and the Trouble With Being Anonymous: "PittGirl and the Trouble With Being Anonymous"

My posting in that thread is repeated here:

esides the fact that I was part of the persona that was PittGirl -- I am also Mark Rauterkus and NOT Anonymous.

Great post Justin.

Folks, the "blow-back" situations in this town are "real." I dare say that they are not "everywhere" -- but I'm sure that they are strident here.

It is hard to be yourself on the internet. But, it is nearly impossible to get people to do other things -- such as run for public office. There are a few "cancers" in our greater community -- and the "blow-back" cancer needs to be buffered.

Since, "being boring" can't count as a "secret" (i.e., all harbor some secrets) -- Justin should know that I have no other secrets -- other than the one at the top of this reply. But that cat was let out of the bag a while ago.

This should be a topic of further discussions as there are some long-term, deep-rooted, important concepts that need community-wide understanding. When we wash away the need to be anonymous, many of the other hang-ups that cripple our region are sure to diminish greatly.

Agency OKs loan for arena overrun - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Agency OKs loan for arena overrun - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "The total cost of the arena is $321 million, up from $290 million when city, county and state officials announced a deal in March 2007 to keep the Penguins in Pittsburgh by building an arena to replace Mellon Arena, the National Hockey League's oldest venue.

The city-county Sports & Exhibition Authority agreed Nov. 13 to contribute $5.5 million to the $31 million increase in the cost of the arena. The state will contribute $10 million and the Penguins will pay $15.5 million."

Lessons From A Capitalist Thanksgiving - Forbes.com

Lessons From A Capitalist Thanksgiving - Forbes.com: "When we remind them that their ideas have been tried--and found wanting--in the past, they cavalierly deny history, clap their hands over their ears and cry even more loudly for 'change.' If we listen to them, we deserve what we will get."

Postal Service stops anti-graffiti painters in Mt. Washington - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Ouch.

Postal Service stops anti-graffiti painters in Mt. Washington - Pittsburgh Tribune-ReviewSandy Fundy thought she was battling vandals while sprucing up her neighborhood.

Turns out, she and other Mt. Washington residents unknowingly were breaking federal law.

Fundy said she asked for and received permission from a station manager at the Mt. Oliver post office in June to paint over graffiti on a green relay box near her home on Wyoming Avenue.

Under no circumstances can residents legally paint Postal Service boxes, despite what Bruce Kraus on others on city council might say.

Well, there are ways to fight back. This is a time to be creative.

Under no circumstances can a postal truck park on my sidewalk.

Under no circumstances can postal boxes with graffiti go without a phone call to mulitple postal service offices -- on the hour.

How about a wrap around the boxes. A tent could be put up so the view is of another object, not the box.

Perhaps the boxes can be covered pretty fall leaves.

How about if the postal service paints the boxes with black chalk board paint and then little chalk murals be allowed on the boxes. Not paint -- but chalk!

How about if we do a bailout with Obama's administration and change the federal law. We could get a re-painting holiday. Or a Keystone Repainting Zone designation -- a BID -- or whatever.

How about if we put the phone numbers of the paint crew for the post office onto the web. Then we can all call these folks directly.

How about if we put the work schedule of the paint crew on the web and we can see where they'll be day to day and hour to hour.

How about if those homeland security cameras are pointed at the mailboxes and the one's that are doing the late-night vandalism are caught on tape and then arrested. Then they can have, in part, as their punishment, a duty for the next 30-years to keep the boxes clean, or else.

Song: Twist to the 12 Days of Christmas

TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
On his twelfth day in office
Ron Paul could’ve given me
A restored Constitution,
Second amendment,
All of my earnings,
Non-intervention,
Choice in my healthcare,
Border protection,
Property rights,
Restored pri-va-cy!!!
US sovereignty,
Sound money,
Real integrity,
And renewed faith in liberty!

Some Happy Thoughts at Thanksgiving

Ron Morris gives a bunch of points.

The American Entrepreneur - Newsletter Articles - Some Happy Thoughts at Thanksgiving: "We did a little research at Pittsburgh Renaissance Radio (my thanks to Brittany Strobel) and the results of that research were both interesting and exciting. Here are some things that we learned:"

Wife and kids are back from some Black Friday money spending. Crowds were no problem. In-store help was great.

Way to go Pitt and #25, Shady! We have no furniture to spare. I saw a bed on East Carson Street on the opposite side of the street from the Post Office. It might be a loud night, here on the South Side.

Wal-Mart worker dies after shoppers knock him down - Yahoo! News

Stay safe out there.

From Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates ponder current events

Wal-Mart worker dies after shoppers knock him down - Yahoo! News: "A worker died after being trampled by a throng of unruly shoppers when a suburban Wal-Mart opened for the holiday sales rush Friday, authorities said.

At least three other people were injured.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., in Bentonville, Ark., would not confirm the reports of a stampede but said a 'medical emergency' had caused the company to close the store, which is in Valley Stream on Long Island."

Gun Ordinance Letter to City ...

Gun Ordinance Letter to City ...: "The purpose of this letter is to follow-up on my testimony during the November 20th public hearing regarding the proposed lost and stolen firearms ordinance. I would also like to respond to contentions made by others at both that hearing as well as the November 18th post-agenda hearing.The purpose of this letter is to follow-up on my testimony during the November 20th public hearing regarding the proposed lost and stolen firearms ordinance. I would also like to respond to contentions made by others at both that hearing as well as the November 18th post-agenda hearing."

How China's slowdown could crimp our bailout plans - BloggingStocks

 

How China's slowdown could crimp our bailout plans - BloggingStocks: "Why should you care what's going on in China? It makes many of the products we buy -- particularly the ones sold at Wal-Mart Stores (NYSE: WMT). And it has been recycling the profits it makes due to its relatively low labor costs into buying American debt. In fact, without its willingness to purchase our Treasury bonds, we would probably not be able to afford the $8.2 trillion worth of bailout plans that we've created so far -- or the additional $20 trillion we might need in the future."

Twitter is making me much smarter! 

But, there seems to be some factual errors. The bailout is at $4-trillion. Not $8.2 T, nor $20T. (yet) The economy in China has been at 10-12% growth per quarter for the last few years. 

China's GDP growth can not include the "construction of houses." Housing, okay. But, a while ago China outlawed the building of any new single-family houses. That isn't happening. Perhaps the building of apartment buildings is another matter.

The cutting of one steel plant's production by 15% does not mean that global suppliers fo commodies -- such as iron ore, copper and cement -- around the world are suffering. That's a stretch, to say the least.

It is hard to see so many goofs in the first part of the article and then assume that the conclusion about US debt is valid. 

I agree that the decline is scary. I agree that the solvency of the nation is at the brink. But, this mess of a bailout with the US markets and Fed was created by the US politicians. The US is hooked to China. Fine. But, let's fix ourselves first and fix blame within the halls of our governmental offices.

Amazing: Thai Protests Strand Thousands of Tourists

From thai mix

ABC News: Thai Protests Strand Thousands of Tourists: "Thai Protests Strand Thousands of Tourists
Grounded Tourists Were Left to Sleep on Airport Floors While Demonstrators Held a Rally Outside"

Wonderful read. Check it out.

Democracy is not always a contact sport in Thailand.

From Thai boxing at Lumpinee

More fuel for the calling of The Zombie as a new mascot for new Pgh Public High School

The Zombies -- now taking the field -- with its own initial theme song as well.



Pointers

Zombie Nation PSU blog. A blog for PSU (Penn State) calls itself the Zombie Nation PSU.

Always point to Wikipedia for insights:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zombie_Nation_(band)

The first Zombie Nation five track EP was released in the spring of 1999 on DJ Hell's label, International DeeJay Gigolo Records. A remix of the song Kernkraft 400 on this debut release landed in high chart-positions all over the world.

Since 2001, Florian Senfter has released tracks on different labels under Zombie Nation and his other pseudonym John Starlight. In 2002 he did not renew his contract with International DeeJay Gigolo Records and started his own label, Dekathlon Records, where he released the second Album "Absorber" in 2003. In early 2005, the new sublabel UKW Records was launched with John Starlight's John's Addiction Part 1 followed by Paeng Paeng 12" by Zombie Nation which was recorded a few months later. Sven Väth realized the potential of that song at first glance and licensed it for his Cocoon Recordings imprint. The the 3rd Album "Black Toys" which was released in 2006 on UKW Records Zombie Nation is a bass dominated soundscape [1] from tech-hop [2] to funk-laden house[2] . In 2007 Zombie Nation collaborated with Tiga under the pseudonym ZZT on the recording "Lower State of Consciousness".

Zombie Nation is also known today as electronic music liveact. Different from a DJ he uses musical hardware on stage to create sounds. The main instrument is an Akai MPC 4000[3] Music sequencer which he uses in combination with a mixing console and several effects units to do a live arrangement and Mix of his music.

Hear the title track - Tune: http://www.last.fm/music/Zombie+Nation/_/Kernkraft+400?autostart



Steel mill and all!

Background:

As I've posted before, it would be great if the new sports mascot for the new Pgh Public Schools at the new Science and Technology school (combined with UPREP) would be called "The Zombies."

414 Grant Street calls Joe Mistick a jerkoff

414 Grant Street: "When Trib columnist Joe Mistick was Sophie Masloff's top aid, he would have fired anyone who suggested that Sophie give all the proceeds of a campaign fundraiser to charity. In fact, it seems fair to ask how much money he convinced Sophie to donate to charity from her political fundraisers while he was running the city? Hmmm...we're guessing $0. Why would he think anyone else should be held to a different standard? What a jerkoff.

Really?

Panda attacks man in Chinese zoo

BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Panda attacks man in Chinese zoo A man has been attacked by a panda at a park in southern China, after he climbed into its enclosure hoping to cuddle the creature.
The 20-year-old student had ignored warning signs and scaled a two-metre (6.5ft) barrier to get into the pen.
State media say the panda bit him on his arms and legs, and he had to be rescued by the animal's keepers.
Speaking from his hospital bed, the injured man said the panda had looked so cute he had just wanted to hug it.
The incident happened on Friday at Qixing Park in Guilin, a popular tourist attraction in the southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, which houses a small zoo and panda exhibit.

If you want to hug a cute panda, buy one of these stuffed animals.

From china - bike - more

Derrick - South Side neighborhood walk

Picasa Web Albums - Derrick - South Side neighborhood walk: "South Side neighborhood walk"

A project with a neighborhood walk has plenty of snapshots of the South Side Flats. Our house is "featured" - sorta. I went in the tour and left a bunch of snarky comments. You can do the same.

On Tap - Flouting the Rule of Law

Great read. Must read. Even Bruce Kraus should read this.

On Tap - Flouting the Rule of Law: "There are two outrageous philosophies at work here. The first is the philosophy of “do something, even if it’s meaningless”. Councilwoman Payne knows darn well that this ordinance isn’t going to reduce violent crime. Yet she and five other members of the City Council cast their vote in favor of this ordinance yesterday because (in my opinion), they want to be seen as doing something about violent crime. If you’re only interested in appearing to be effective, rather than actually being effective, I don’t want you as my elected representative. Period. Don’t give me soundbite solutions that play well on the evening news but don’t actually make the city any safer."

PURE Reform: Sports Proposal from Mark Rauterkus

PURE Reform: Sports Proposal from Mark Rauterkus: "Sports Proposal from Mark Rauterkus"

I'm getting some ink / or recycled electrons at another blog about the Zombies and Olympians -- in a call to participation for the community in our schools.

The Libertarian Moment: Despite all leading indicators to the contrary, America is poised to enter a new age of freedom. - Reason Magazine

Hard to read, but here is his summary in the middle.

The Libertarian Moment: Despite all leading indicators to the contrary, America is poised to enter a new age of freedom. - Reason Magazine: "The Libertarian Moment is based on a few hard-won insights that have grown into a fragile but enduring consensus in the ever-expanding free world. First is the notion that, all things being equal, markets are the best way to organize an economy and unleash the means of production (and its increasingly difficult-to-distinguish adjunct, consumption). Second is that at least vaguely representative democracy, and the political freedom it almost always strengthens, is the least worst form of government (a fact that even recalcitrant, anti-modern regimes in Islamabad, Tehran, and Berkeley grudgingly acknowledge in at least symbolic displays of pluralism). Both points seem almost banal now, but were under constant attack during the days of the Soviet Union, and are still subject to wobbly confidence any time capitalist dictatorships like China seem to grow ascendant in a time of domestic economic woe. Though every dip in the Dow makes the professional amnesiacs of cable TV and the finance pages turn in the direction of Mao, there is no going back to the Great Leap Forward.

...

Understanding the Libertarian Moment is fundamental to understanding the 21st century. Power — economic, cultural, political — will accrue to those people who recognize that it’s over for existing power centers. The command economy, the command culture, and the command polity have all been replaced by a different model — that of a consultant, a docent, a fixer, a friend. The individuals and groups that will flourish in the Libertarian Moment will be those who open things up, not shut them down.

Pittsburgh's renaissance holds lesson for Cleveland - Metro - cleveland.com

Pittsburgh's renaissance holds lesson for Cleveland - Metro - cleveland.com: "Pittsburgh's renaissance holds lesson for Cleveland"

RMU Trips Abroad for 2009

Want to go on vacation and study with RMU in May and June of 2009. Check out this line-up of trips.

See the link under the heading, "Insights" here.

Are we going to be looking for this button next week?

So, what is happening?

And, what's going to happen?

Push for transit button.

Does PAT shut down next week?




An alternative to the bus -- the arrival of the bikes.



Pittsburgh, and the USA as a whole, should turn to golf carts as a way of mass transit. Anyone could drive them. Just leave them at various places downtown, and take em for a spin along certain streets. If you drive, you have to pick up the others that are going in the same direction as yourself.

Otherwise, we might as well try bumper cars.

From Grant

Big Bailouts, Bigger Bucks = Must read on cost of bailouts

You gotta see this.

Big Bailouts, Bigger Bucks | The Big Picture: "That is $686 billion less than the cost of the credit crisis thus far.

The only single American event in history that even comes close to matching the cost of the credit crisis is World War II: Original Cost: $288 billion, Inflation Adjusted Cost: $3.6 trillion

The $4.6165 trillion dollars committed so far is about a trillion dollars ($979 billion dollars) greater than the entire cost of World War II borne by the United States: $3.6 trillion, adjusted for inflation (original cost was $288 billion).

Go figure: WWII was a relative bargain.

End The Fed - rally and message in Pittsburgh - End The Fed

City still can't ope ice rink -- but a drunk tank is being talked about

"There is some discussion of using the current Zone 3 station, once it is vacated, as a drunk tank."

Oh my gosh.

Going to the pool

 

Dog missing 5 years reunited with owner

Dog missing 5 years reunited with owner: "Tootsie, the adventuresome dachshund who went missing more than five years ago, is on his way back home ...

Then there is the story of the recently lost dog / puppy.

From Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates ponder current events

Ricky Burgess makes sense on gun measures in the works with city council

Council passes controversial bill on stolen guns The lone no vote was by Councilman Ricky Burgess, who argued that it would be a 'false cure' that would be 'particularly cruel' to his violence-plagued northeastern Pittsburgh district.
'This legislation will not strike a blow to straw purchasers,' he said. 'This ordinance will not be enforced, no loopholes will be closed and no lives will be saved, because no municipality can legally regulate firearms of any kind, at any time, for any reason.'

Right on Rev. Burgess.


Of course Tonya Payne does not give a concern about the constitution.

City council is up to its regular folly of over-reaching. They are only going to make for a new windfall for the lawyers to bill the public and nothing is going to be accomplished -- except a battle with the constition and the rich getting richer.

I also like the quote from Mr. Dowd. He said that in passing the measure council is "not really effectively changing the situation on the ground," and is inviting a lawsuit.

Doug Shields has it right with one technical point his quote in the Post-Gazette. Yes, go to courts to make arguements. Likewise, you go to the funeral home to cry for the dead and the hospitals to mend the injured. Going to the courts to make your arguements isn't going to fix anything when it comes to those injured and killed. And, the more they wish to run to the courts to fuss over arguements -- the longer it is going to take to get some sanity in the neighborhoods so as to divert the rushing to hospitals and graveyards.

Swim meet warm-ups

Turkey talk reminds me of these peeps.

Turkey talk is in the air. President Obama is on the radio talking about his 'economic team.'

But, I'm reminded of these peeps in the photo above. We encountered this woman was outside a school selling the chicks -- either in green, yellow, red or white.

As for my peeps, there are 237 folks who are now following me on twitter. My blog gets fewer updates since I've been sending notices to twitter.

August photos are still being found

Erik, Mark, Catherine, Grant in foreground. In the background is the Olympic Softball Stadium in Beijing and the teams from Japan and Australia are shaking hands after the game. Australia picked up the bronze medal and Japan won in extra innings. Japan then played the USA for the gold and silver medals.

Sports Fan Trivia -- what's going on here?

Game time:

Can you tell what's going on here? I took the photo. Tip: click image for a larger view.

Prize to the one in the comments that gets it right.

What are these folks watching?

26 cited for underage drinking at Heinz Field - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

26 cited for underage drinking at Heinz Field - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "State police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement officers cited 26 minors for underage drinking Saturday at Heinz Field throughout the WPIAL football championships."

Bike Pittsburgh - Bike the Strike!

Bike Pittsburgh - Bike the Strike!: "Don’t let the Strike slow you down, BIKE!"

Ron Paul Answers Your Questions, Part Two - Freakonomics Blog - NYTimes.com

Ron Paul Answers Your Questions, Part Two - Freakonomics Blog - NYTimes.com What is the first thing the country should do about its monetary policy?

A: We should immediately audit the Federal Reserve....

Said this before: Japan is upset that Obama won the election.

Four cities bidding for 2016 Olympics get to make their case - More Sports - SI.com: "It's also the first bid presentations since the election of former Illinois senator Barack Obama as U.S. president, a potential major boost to the bid from his hometown of Chicago.

A video message from Obama, taped since his election victory, is expected to be included in Chicago's 20-minute delivery.

'There's heightened interest and excitement in the presentations,' Hickey said. 'People are wondering if the Chicago presentation will include something from President-elect Obama. It's an added dimension.'

But, Tokyo has its own secret weapon. The Prime Minister of Japan is an Olympian. He was a shooter in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.

So, I guess Madrid, Spain, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, must be the ones that are the most mad -- since Obama won the election.

Obama goes into office in Jan 2009, he should still be in the White House and seeking re-election in time for the London 2012 Olympics. If he serves eight years, he'll be in the White House as the 2016 Summer Olympics are staged in his home town of Chicago.

Outfield of women's softball at Beijing Olympics had the Olympic rings. The team with the yellow and green is Australia. They lost to Japan and then got 3rd place -- in extra innings. Softball is due to get the Olympic ax -- as in baseball. Perhaps with the Chicago bid -- we'd get to see softball played at the home of the White Sox -- or the Cubs.

Delivered this letter to Pittsburgh Public Schools -- today

To:
Pittsburgh Public Schools
Office of the Superintendent
Office of the Athletic Director
Office of the School Board

Dear PPS Board Members and School Administrators,

I care about sports and fitness. And, I want to be involved to the highest degree in these programs and their leadership.

It would be great if the new athletic booster groups could begin to gather as soon as possible. I'd be willing to get this started.

Furthermore, I feel that the new mascot for the combined sports teams with students at U-Prep and Science and Technology should be called, The Zombies. Pittsburgh has a rich tradition and history with the Zombie. That mascot choice alone will account for lots of buzz and schools-wide spirit. Kids will want to go there to be known as a “Zombie Athlete.”

As to the I.B. High – or I.B. World – or whatever it becomes, the mascot should be: The Olympians. It might be okay to be The Globetrotters – but that is used with a certain basketball team in Harlem – and it is for an all-black team. So, that has good and bad hangups. If not the Olympians – and if not the Globetrotters, then perhaps the team mascot could be The Wikipedians. That is a combo of Wiki (quick) as in Wikipedia. And pedestrian. A person who edits Wikipedia.org – is a Wikipedian.

I offer the last suggestion as a toss away option. Some folks just need to say 'no' and object to one option. Then there is good feelings to the others – Zombies and Olympians.

Visualize it now – the Olympians and their annual 'Toga Homecoming.' The school could use the wreath as a special award for activities. The name, “Olympians” could be a mascot name – but the five Olympic Rings and the name “Olympics” should be avoided for trademark concerns. Plus, the Olympians would be a good replacement for to the existing mascot, the Spartans.

Call me when we can meet and get started in more 'formal' dealing as to getting our community better engaged with our schools via the avenue of its sports teams.


Thanks for your consideration,

Suit forces eHarmony to offer gay dating service - Yahoo! News

Sorta weird to be forced to open a new web site.

Suit forces eHarmony to offer gay dating service - Yahoo! News: "Online dating service eHarmony has agreed to create a new website for gays and lesbians as part of a settlement with a gay man in New Jersey, the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General said on Wednesday.

Isn't eHarmony all about the match of answers to specific questions? That is where the 'magic' comes with the suggestions for date partners. Will the same metrics apply? Is that able to be built off the same body of knowledge. I think that a pun is hidden in there somewhere.